In a move to protect staff and the broader Hobart community, City of Hobart CEO Kelly Grigsby has today announced a proposal for mandatory vaccination for all staff, and visitors to staff workplaces.
“With borders reopening and the inevitability that COVID-19 will enter our community, we are taking a leadership position to protect our staff and our community to the best of our ability, utilising the resources that are available to us,” Ms Grigsby said.
“As an organisation, we need to be ready and able to respond quickly to any emerging situation – COVID or otherwise – and to support health services and other partner agencies, should the need arise as the result of an outbreak.”
Under the proposed policy, all City of Hobart employees need to have booked their first vaccination by 15 December – the date the Tasmanian border is due to reopen to all domestic travellers.
By December 31, staff will need to have had their first shot of the vaccine, with the second dose required by 31 January, 2022.
In addition, visitors to City of Hobart workplaces – including the Town Hall, Council Centre, depots, Travel and Information Centre, McRobies Gully Waste Management Centre, and the Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre – must be fully vaccinated in order to enter the premises from 15 December onwards.
“This is a matter of prioritising the health of our staff, and supporting our community at a time when they are likely to need us most,” Ms Grigsby said. “The City provides a range of essential services to our community and our community needs to have confidence that we can continue to provide these services in the event of an outbreak.”
Starting 15 December, staff who are not yet vaccinated will be required to undergo regular rapid antigen testing, administered on-site by a nurse.
Under clause 11 of the Hobart City Council Enterprise Agreement 2021, as the CEO, I am now formally consulting with employees and unions in relation to this workplace change.
Once the policy is fully implemented, all employees will need to be sufficiently vaccinated as a condition of their employment.
Support will be provided for employees who meet the criteria for a medical exemption.
